In today's society social media has completely taken over. What used to take days to get out to the public now takes only seconds. There is nothing that can stay hidden because the internet is everywhere. Of course, social media isn't all bad, but the majority of the time, the media doesn't get the story right.
Let us look at some examples.
1. Orlando Shooting
This is going first because it is the most recent mass shooting. Out of all of the articles I have read they all get something wrong. The line being totted around is that "automatic weapons are readily available to be purchased here on American soil." This is one of the biggest lies I have ever read from a very prominent newspaper. Automatic weapons are no more legally available in the United States than dinosaurs are. You can get semi-automatic weapons, which is what the AR-15 rifle is that was used during this shooting, but lets get one thing straight: automatic weapons are very much illegal, as well as unavailable.
2. Stanford Rapist
This is the most aggravating story in the news right now, and what's worse is that the media is making it worse. The media is unintentionally glorifying the Stanford rapist by showing picture after picture of him, dressed in a nice suit, or swimming for his school. They keep posting letters written by his friends and family defending him. If the media wanted to truly help or report the full story, it would not give him his 15 minutes of fame. Instead, they would focus on the two heroes that saved a woman's life. Not the rapist who tried to ruin it.
3. The Presidential Race
This might come as a surprise, but no matter what candidate we are talking about each media outlet is reporting something different. Bernie's votes weren't counted and some outlets called for voting fraud. Hillary is still running for president (and winning) though she is being investigated by the FBI. Trump, well Trump is spewing tons of information out at once, and some of it is what this country needs to hear, some is misogynistic, homophobic, racist and the list could go on. Who knows what is even true about the candidates anymore because each type of media, whether it be Facebook, Twitter, MSN, CNN, Fox, they are all different.
No wonder the American people are outraged and split down the line on all major issues. No one actually knows what the issues are. We can't get straight up facts anymore, there is always some time of spin, some type of bias. Personally, I am fed with it. I can't even go on Facebook anymore because people simply believe what they read in one article and it kills me. I think it's time for media to put aside all of their biases and stop publishing slander, rumors, or straight up lies. Let the people choose what they believe based on facts.
